Flora Duffy confirms career ‘pivot’ and reflects on ‘surreal’ end to Olympic Games triathlon journey at Paris 2024

Flora Duffy has reflected on a ‘surreal’ end to her Olympic Games triathlon journey at Paris 2024, and confirmed a career ‘pivot’ as she looks ahead to what comes next.

The 36-year-old Bermudian superstar made headlines around the world in Tokyo 2021 when she claimed her nation’s first and only Olympic Games gold medal by storming to a brilliant victory.

Three years on just making it to the start line for Wednesday’s women’s individual race was an achievement, having only recently returned to action from more than 500 days out with a serious knee injury.

Gallant effort from Duffy

She left nothing on the table in the French capital either, blasting out in front on the swim and then being right at the head of affairs as the bike leg hurtled through the iconic Parisian streets. The pace on the run was too hot though, as she eventually came home in fifth place behind new French champion Cassandre Beaugrand.

Afterwards Flora reflected on an incredible journey which has seen her compete in five Olympic Games, performing at the very highest level of the sport.

She told The Royal Gazette Bermuda: “It’s been a very special journey and it feels surreal that it coming to an end today. There were so many Bermuda flags here today and so many friends and family that have come to watch me and it was special to end my Olympic campaign with so many people here to support me and who have supported me along the way.”

Flora revealed that despite that lack of preparation time due to injury, she still believed a medal was possible on her Olympic Games farewell. Sadly though, it was not to be.

Run ability not on show

It was a big stretch for me to get here as fit as I was and to finish fifth, but of course I wanted a medal and I believed I could get it, but I didn’t show my run ability.

“It failed me, which was a little disappointing but at the same time even if I was running with that front group, you never really know how that final kilometre will go. It would have been nice to run a bit better but I was really pleased with how I attacked the race and the whole journey to get here.

“My training showed that I was in better form than what I displayed today, particularly on the run. I don’t know if a few more months of training would have helped but maybe you could argue the lack of racing is a factor.

“That’s a very specific stimulus and you can only get that by racing and since I’ve only been able to race twice in 18 months, maybe that was lacking. In the triathlon being able to be really good across three sports in one day can be hard to nail and I just didn’t run as well as I wanted today.”

As Duffy reflects on what those five Games mean for her, she also spoke about what they mean for her nation. A nation that could not be prouder of her.

Olympic legacy, and what comes next

“I’m very proud to have been to five Olympics and this time it was special to have Tyler Smith and Erica Hawley racing. That is special for Bermuda to have three athletes in one sport competing at the same Olympic Games.

“There are lots of things I’m proud of through this Olympic campaign, of course the peak was Tokyo, but there was so much I had to get through to be on the start line in Paris.”

At the age of 36, the question is which direction Flora will take now in her glittering career. Retirement though is firmly ruled out, and instead she will step up in distance to test her prodigious skills with new challenges.

“I have no thoughts of retiring just yet but I will be moving on to some long-course racing for the remaining months of the year. I will next race in September so I will take a few weeks to assess what direction I want to go in but my career will pivot to long course.”

Flora Duffy was one of the short course stars signed to the PTO’s T100 roster, announced earlier in 2024, alongside the likes of Taylor Spivey. So we can only speculate that the long course racing she refers to may well be the Ibiza T100 race set to take place in September. Watch this space!